Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

Movie review by Brian Costello, Common Sense Media
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Extremely violent animated addition to the Batman story.

PG-13 2012 76 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 14 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is extremely violent. Based on the 1986 Frank Miller graphic novel, this Batman is a reflection of a mid-'80s vigilantism mindset as exemplified by Dirty Harry, Rambo, and so many other "tough guy gets even" movies from that era. Even compared to recent Batman films, this one is more violent, even if it's animated. The story is dark, and the complexities of the characters and the violence make it inappropriate for younger viewers. But for teens and parents ready for a superhero story with ambiguity, this is one worth seeing.

Community Reviews

kyleReeselives
kyleReeselives Adult
October 7, 2018
age 15+

A great movie, just don't show it to kids

Being that this is an animated Batman movie, you'd think it was better for kids than the Christopher Nolan trilogy. Well think again. This one is much less appropriate for them. Personally, I would've thought the same way around the time it was released (I was 12 years old). However, this one has much more of the dark elements you could find in the aforementioned trilogy. For one, it's much more violent, Batman is much less merciful than he was in other adaptations (he still doesn't kill anyone, but that's beside the point), the villains are much darker and more violent, and Gotham as a city is much more like a less live able version of Detroit, with all the violence and city problems included. In other words, it's not only more violent and much darker than The Dark Knight, but it is so in half the time. Batman himself isn't necessarily a (pun intended) knight in shining armor, he's a very morally ambiguous character in this rendition who seems to enjoy the fights he gets in, rather than being content with doing so to deliver justice. That being said, it's not an entirely joyless story, and it's a great film nonetheless. Just be sure you know what you're showing your kids, because this one is not the ideal family movie.

This title has:

Too much violence
Hendo H. U.
Hendo H. U. Adult
January 15, 2018
age 14+

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BATMAN: THE DARK NIGHT RETURNS, PART 1, it's been 10 years since Bruce Wayne was Batman (voiced by Peter Weller). He's trying to stay retired, but as Gotham City continues its descent into violence, crime, and decadence, he's finding it harder and harder to remain a civilian who's content to spend the rest of his middle-aged days driving his race car. A crime gang known as The Mutants are terrorizing innocent citizens at every turn, and if that wasn't bad enough, Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face) has been released from jail thanks to a plastic surgeon and a coddling psychiatrist. With this turn of events, Wayne becomes Batman once again, and as he fights The Mutants and starts to bring about a drop in Gotham's crime, once again, citizens and the media are torn as to whether or not Batman's brand of justice is right or wrong.

Is It Any Good?

As an adaptation of Frank Miller's 1986 graphic novel, this is an excellent exploration of the ambiguities of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Iatman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 also examines the battles between good and evil that are fought not just in the good guy/bad guy sense of standard comic book fare, but within each individual. In some ways, with the steady media debate raging as a counterpoint to Batman's crime fighting, this could be seen as a satire of contemporary urban life.

The only quibble with this is that the contemporary urban life being satired feels like it's stuck in 1986, where the '80s action movie mentality reigns -- where tough guy Dirty Harry-types shoot first and ask questions later, rule of law and due process be damned. Nonetheless, the complexities of the characters themselves transcends some of these more dated elements, making this an enjoyable, if extremely violent, experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Batman. How has the Batman character evolved over the years? What has remained unchanged about his basic story? Out of all the different Batmans played or voiced by different actors, which one is your favorite?

  • What are your thoughts on the violence in this version of Batman? Does it enhance or detract from the central story in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 ?

  • In some ways, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 explores the idea of whether people should take the law in their own hands, or whether they should place their faith in the police and the due process of our court system. How does this debate emerge in the story?

Movie Details

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